Meet Sheriff Gary Caruana
Sheriff Gary Caruana is a law enforcement and business professional with an excellent blend of education, experience, and outstanding work performance. He is a firm believer in the tenets of community policing, both in philosophy and practical application, and a proven leader committed to community engagement, employee development, and the utilization of technology to increase efficiency.
Overseeing the daily operations of the Winnebago County Sheriff’s Office.
Including 12 years as Sheriff and 8 years as a Sheriff’s Deputy.
Leading law enforcement deputies, corrections officers, 911 dispatch center staff, and civilian positions.
Responsible for planning, operations, personnel, and public safety resources.
Private-sector security, investigations, safety, and operations leadership.
Professional Summary
Gary Caruana brings an experienced background in law enforcement, business operations, public safety leadership, private-sector security, investigations, emergency communications, and executive management.
His leadership is grounded in community policing, responsible management, employee development, technology-driven efficiency, and practical experience leading both public safety and private-sector operations.
Leadership as Winnebago County Sheriff
Sheriff Caruana has served as Sheriff of the Winnebago County Sheriff’s Office since December 2014. His Sheriff’s Office experience includes two decades of service, including 12 years as Winnebago County Sheriff and 8 years as a Sheriff’s Deputy.
As Sheriff, he oversees the daily operations of the Winnebago County Sheriff’s Office in the performance of planning and directing operations. He reports directly to the citizens of Rockford and Winnebago County and leads a total staff of 400 employees, including law enforcement deputies, corrections officers, the 911 dispatcher center, and other civilian positions, with an operating budget in excess of $47 million.
His responsibilities include budget planning, formulation of department objectives, administration of personnel activities, media communications, departmental recordkeeping, supervision of the County Correctional Facility, and assisting in the management and maintenance of an efficient inter-governmental emergency communications network.
Current Responsibilities
Sheriff Caruana is also responsible for Community Engagement, Crisis Negotiations, the Taser Program, Response to Resistance / Use of Force Review, Office of Emergency Management, Community Emergency Response Team, Policy Review and Implementation, Social Services, Honor Guard, Press Information, and Social Media.
- Daily Sheriff’s Office operations
- Planning and directing operations
- Law enforcement services
- Corrections operations
- 911 dispatch center operations
- Budget planning
- Department objective formulation
- Personnel administration
- Media communications
- Departmental recordkeeping
- County Correctional Facility supervision
- Emergency communications network management
- Community engagement
- Crisis negotiations
- Taser Program
- Response to Resistance / Use of Force Review
- Office of Emergency Management
- Community Emergency Response Team
- Policy review and implementation
- Social Services
- Honor Guard
- Press information
- Social media
Major Accomplishments as Sheriff
- Implemented body-worn cameras proactively years before they were mandated by the State of Illinois.
- Implemented a new Records Management System.
- Created a Multi-Agency Crisis Co-Responder Team, also identified as CCRT / Co-Crisis Response Team.
- Created a Wellness & Resiliency Department focused on caring for the mental health of officers.
- Created a Department Promotional Video Program.
Education & Professional Training
- Police Executive Research Forum, Senior Management Institute for Police, Session 81.
- FBI National Academy, Class 264.
- FBI-LEEDA Law Enforcement Executive Development Trilogy.
- Certified Fraud Examiner, Certified Examiner, 2013.
- Judson University, Bachelor of Arts in Management and Leadership.
- Weber University, Master of Arts in Management.
- FBI 40-hour Regional Crisis Negotiation training.
United Parcel Service Experience
Before serving as Winnebago County Sheriff, Gary Caruana served with United Parcel Service from May 1986 through May 2012, completing 26 years of service. He started as a package car driver for 9 months and was promoted into the Security Inspectors Division in the Illinois District.
At UPS, he reported directly to the Region Security Investigation Manager and led a staff of 50 security investigators. He was responsible for overseeing major complex criminal fraud investigations, claims payments and processing of high-value packages, and he led 350 employees in the Rockford Air Hub responsible for daily air operations and timely package processing for customers.
UPS Major Accomplishments
- Responsible for the safety and security of 12,000 employees in the Illinois District, including Chicago.
- Implemented data-driven approaches to crime and safety by utilizing a trend graph process to identify area needs.
- Led a career development program to train and develop employees for succession planning.
- Responsible for the development and implementation of the Master Operating Plan for safety and security at O’Hare, Rockford, and Peoria airports, working closely with the FAA and TSA.
- The Master Operating Plan was put into place as a response to the 9/11 attacks of 2001.
Early Law Enforcement Experience
Sheriff Caruana began his career in law enforcement with the Winnebago County Sheriff’s Office, serving from April 1978 through August 1985.
During that early Sheriff’s Office service, he worked in Patrol, the Civil Process Division, and the Correction Division.
Other Experience & Qualifications
- International Association of Chiefs of Police, Current Member.
- Illinois Sheriff’s Association, Current Member.
- Rockford Board of Fire and Police Commissioner, responsible for interviewing Fire and Police candidates.
- Association of Certified Fraud Examiners, with experience interviewing fraud suspects.
- Substitute Teacher in local public schools, teaching grades 6 through 12.
- Rockford Alliance Against Sexual Exploitation Board Member, leading processes to apprehend sexual predators.
- Northwest Illinois Law Enforcement Executives Association President, leading monthly law enforcement meetings focused on communications with regional law enforcement.
- Northern Illinois Training Advisory Board, Current Board Member.
- Winnebago County Emergency Telephone Board, Current Board Chairman.
- FBI 40-hour Regional Crisis Negotiation training.
“I am proud of the men and women of the Winnebago County Sheriff’s Office and, if the voters let me, I will continue to provide public safety for our county and the kind of leadership that they deserve.”
- Winnebago County Sheriff Gary Caruana
